Priya Bakshi, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court the two had been in an on-off relationship for three years and had an 18-month-old son - who was likely to have heard his mother's screams during the attack although he did not witness it.

Whitcombe, of Tennyson Way, Melton, had gone out drinking with the victim earlier on the afternoon of the assault.

When they got back to her home an argument broke out, when he accused her of taking drugs into the house.

Miss Bakshi said: "He pushed her against a wall and punched her a few times."

The victim, who fled to a neighbour's for help, suffered a cut lip, a bump to her head, bruising and cuts to her arm, facial cuts and a badly broken tooth that required a hospital treatment.

She described being in extreme pain after the attack.

Although the complainant wanted no further contact with the defendant she was content for him to continue having access to their child.

In a victim impact statement she expressed a wish Whitcombe should "receive treatment."

What did the judge say?

"Men who beat up women, whether shoving them against a hard surface and punching them a few times, must realise it's unacceptable."

The judge imposed a five year restraining order banning Whitcombe from having direct contact with the complainant.

He said the defendant had written a letter expressing remorse to the court, but said it would have been better expressed if he had pleaded guilty at an earlier stage, rather than months later when he was due to stand trial.